PLoS ONE (Jan 2013)

Macronutrient composition of the diet and prospective weight change in participants of the EPIC-PANACEA study.

  • Anne-Claire Vergnaud,
  • Teresa Norat,
  • Traci Mouw,
  • Dora Romaguera,
  • Anne M May,
  • H Bas Bueno-de-Mesquita,
  • Daphne van der A,
  • Antonio Agudo,
  • Nicholas Wareham,
  • Kay-Tee Khaw,
  • Isabelle Romieu,
  • Heinz Freisling,
  • Nadia Slimani,
  • Florence Perquier,
  • Marie-Christine Boutron-Ruault,
  • Françoise Clavel-Chapelon,
  • Domenico Palli,
  • Franco Berrino,
  • Amalia Mattiello,
  • Rosario Tumino,
  • Fulvio Ricceri,
  • Laudina Rodríguez,
  • Esther Molina-Montes,
  • Pilar Amiano,
  • Aurelio Barricarte,
  • Maria-Dolores Chirlaque,
  • Francesca L Crowe,
  • Philippos Orfanos,
  • Androniki Naska,
  • Antonia Trichopoulou,
  • Birgit Teucher,
  • Rudolf Kaaks,
  • Heiner Boeing,
  • Brian Buijsse,
  • Ingeged Johansson,
  • Göran Hallmans,
  • Isabel Drake,
  • Emily Sonestedt,
  • Marianne Uhre Jakobsen,
  • Kim Overvad,
  • Anne Tjønneland,
  • Jytte Halkjær,
  • Guri Skeie,
  • Tonje Braaten,
  • Eiliv Lund,
  • Elio Riboli,
  • Petra H M Peeters

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0057300
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 3
p. e57300

Abstract

Read online

BACKGROUND:The effect of the macronutrient composition of the usual diet on long term weight maintenance remains controversial. METHODS:373,803 subjects aged 25-70 years were recruited in 10 European countries (1992-2000) in the PANACEA project of the EPIC cohort. Diet was assessed at baseline using country-specific validated questionnaires and weight and height were measured at baseline and self-reported at follow-up in most centers. The association between weight change after 5 years of follow-up and the iso-energetic replacement of 5% of energy from one macronutrient by 5% of energy from another macronutrient was assessed using multivariate linear mixed-models. The risk of becoming overweight or obese after 5 years was investigated using multivariate Poisson regressions stratified according to initial Body Mass Index. RESULTS:A higher proportion of energy from fat at the expense of carbohydrates was not significantly associated with weight change after 5 years. However, a higher proportion of energy from protein at the expense of fat was positively associated with weight gain. A higher proportion of energy from protein at the expense of carbohydrates was also positively associated with weight gain, especially when carbohydrates were rich in fibre. The association between percentage of energy from protein and weight change was slightly stronger in overweight participants, former smokers, participants ≥60 years old, participants underreporting their energy intake and participants with a prudent dietary pattern. Compared to diets with no more than 14% of energy from protein, diets with more than 22% of energy from protein were associated with a 23-24% higher risk of becoming overweight or obese in normal weight and overweight subjects at baseline. CONCLUSION:Our results show that participants consuming an amount of protein above the protein intake recommended by the American Diabetes Association may experience a higher risk of becoming overweight or obese during adult life.